Fantasy
Mystic Light
In the brilliant light of the longest day of the year, the small town revived an ancient solstice ritual. The people, young and old, gathered around a towering bonfire, each carrying their own beliefs and hopes. As night fell, they began the ceremony with dances around the fire and ancient songs. As the ritual continued, the fire grew more intense, as if merging with everyone’s spirit. Torches were lit, and the flames reflected on each person’s face, creating a vivid tapestry of joy and unity.
By 20 Huy Tin2 years ago in Fiction
Dreamkeepers
It all started when Hayat began to remember. They were barely a year old then, just beginning to learn how to talk. The first word they ever spoke was “ayaw,” meaning “no” in Filipino. In fact, Hayat would grow up saying or demonstrating this all the time whenever they felt uncomfortable.
By Karina Thyra2 years ago in Fiction
The Echoes of Elysium . Content Warning.
Every night, just as the world outside her window succumbed to the quiet embrace of darkness, Emily found herself transported to Elysium, a dreamscape both beguiling and terrifying. It began subtly enough—a soft whisper in her ear, a cool breeze that carried her into a realm of vibrant colors and ethereal beauty. Elysium was a paradise of endless meadows, crystalline rivers, and skies that shifted between hues of pink and gold. But lurking beneath this paradise was a sinister presence, an ominous feeling that grew stronger with each visit. Emily first noticed the dream on her 30th birthday. After blowing out the candles and making a wish for clarity in her turbulent life, she retired to bed. That night, she stepped into Elysium for the first time. She walked through fields of lavender that reached up to her waist, feeling a sense of peace she hadn’t known in years. The scent of blooming flowers and the sound of birds singing created a symphony of tranquility. But in the distance, just beyond the horizon, dark clouds loomed, crackling with unseen energy. The recurring dream became a fixture in Emily's life. Night after night, she returned to Elysium, each time venturing a bit further. By day, she was a paralegal in a bustling city, her life a routine of paperwork and muted gray office spaces. By night, she was an explorer in a land of dreams, her senses alive with the wonders of an otherworldly paradise. Yet, the joy of discovery was always marred by the encroaching darkness. Each night, as she wandered through Elysium, she would come across symbols that seemed both familiar and enigmatic. A broken clock with its hands perpetually stuck at midnight. A tree with branches that curled into the shape of a heart, its leaves rustling with secrets. A mirror that reflected not her own image, but a shadowy figure watching her from afar. These symbols haunted her waking hours, as she tried to decipher their meanings and the message they carried. Emily’s daytime reality began to blur with her nighttime journeys. She would catch herself doodling the symbols in the margins of legal documents or spacing out during meetings, her mind wandering back to the fields of lavender and the ominous horizon. Her friends and colleagues noticed the change in her, commenting on her distant gaze and distracted demeanor. She tried to explain the dreams, but how could she convey the intensity and reality of Elysium to those who had never experienced it? Driven by a need to understand, Emily turned to dream analysis. She read books, attended workshops, and even consulted a therapist specializing in lucid dreaming. The broken clock, she learned, symbolized a feeling of being stuck, of time standing still in some aspect of her life. The heart-shaped tree represented a yearning for love and connection, something she had been missing since her last relationship ended abruptly. The shadowy figure in the mirror, however, remained a mystery, its presence both comforting and unsettling. One night, determined to confront the shadowy figure, Emily ventured deeper into Elysium than ever before. The fields gave way to a dense forest, the trees towering above her, their branches intertwining to form a canopy that blocked out the shifting sky. She followed a path lined with the symbols from her dreams, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and anticipation. At the center of the forest, she found a clearing. In the middle stood an ancient oak tree, its trunk massive and gnarled with age. Before it, the shadowy figure awaited. As she approached, the figure became clearer, its features sharpening into a reflection of herself. Emily gasped as she realized she was staring into her own eyes, but this version of herself was different—stronger, more confident, unburdened by the doubts and fears that plagued her waking life. The shadow-self spoke, her voice a blend of Emily’s and something otherworldly. “You seek answers, but you already hold them within you. Elysium is not just a dream; it is a mirror of your soul. The darkness you fear is the part of yourself you have yet to embrace.” Tears welled in Emily’s eyes as she felt the truth of the words. She had spent so long running from her fears, her insecurities, that she had never taken the time to confront them. The recurring dream was her mind’s way of urging her to face her inner darkness and find balance. With a newfound resolve, Emily reached out and touched the shadow-self’s hand. The moment their fingers met, a surge of energy flowed through her, and the dreamscape of Elysium began to change. The dark clouds receded, the forest filled with light, and the symbols that had once puzzled her now glowed with clarity. She understood their meanings, not just intellectually, but deep within her being. When Emily awoke the next morning, she felt different. The weight that had hung over her for years was gone, replaced by a sense of purpose and peace. She took a deep breath, savoring the crisp morning air, and smiled. The symbols from her dreams no longer haunted her; they guided her. In the days that followed, Emily made significant changes in her life. She pursued her passion for painting, capturing the beauty and mystery of Elysium on canvas. She reconnected with old friends and opened herself up to new relationships. She even began to enjoy her work again, finding meaning in the details she had once overlooked. The recurring dream of Elysium still visited her, but it was no longer a source of fear. It had become a place of reflection and growth, a reminder that the answers she sought were always within her. And as she continued to navigate the delicate balance between light and darkness, Emily knew she was on a path to true self-discovery, guided by the echoes of her dreams.
By Dabasish Pal2 years ago in Fiction
Awakening (Excerpt) WIP
Fire rained down on Placid City. The sounds of sirens booming, people screaming, and buildings collapsing now filled what only moments before was a calm and quiet night. I had been peacefully asleep in my bed up until the first blast exploded our county jail, which only lay a few blocks from my house. In a second flat I was out of the blankets, standing in front of my second story window to see what the commotion was. It only took me a few more seconds after seeing the smoldering flames to throw on my pants and shirt from the previous night and rush downstairs to find my father.
By Kevin Johnson2 years ago in Fiction
The longest day of the year!
In the heart of Sweden, surrounded by thick forests and lakes of crystal clear water, there is a small town called Bråviken. Its inhabitants live a pacific life, dedicated to fishing, agriculture and traditional life. But there is a tradition that disappeared with the passing of the years: the ancient ritual of summer solstice.
By creatorsklub2 years ago in Fiction
The Labyrinth of Memories
For as long as Clara could remember, she had been haunted by a recurring dream. Every night, like clockwork, she would find herself in the same place: a vast, ever-changing labyrinth of stone and shadow. The corridors twisted and turned, their paths never the same twice, and the walls seemed to pulse with a life of their own, whispering secrets that danced just beyond the edge of her consciousness.
By Maribel Golosino2 years ago in Fiction
An interview with the Goddess of Love
I interviewed the goddess of love recently and I learned a lot about her thoughts on love and sex. She wanted to be very open and honest about the topics and I appreciated that. She also wanted to explain how she sees others by describing them in the 12 "tribes" of astrological order. I was okay with that as a practiced wiccan who is well-read in astrology.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman2 years ago in Fiction
Fear on Film: Analyzing What Makes Horror So Scary
Horror films have a unique ability to captivate, terrify, and leave lasting impressions on audiences. But what is it about these films that makes them so effective at scaring us? Let's dive into the psychology and mechanics behind the fear on film and uncover what truly makes horror so scary.
By Alex Romanenko2 years ago in Fiction
From Science to the Cosmos: A Night of Discovery Under the Desert Sky
The Celestial Dance of the Saharan Night Kierra's feet pounded the dry earth, sending tiny dust devils swirling around her ankles like miniature whirlwinds as she sprinted through the maze of mud-brick houses. The heavy telescope case bounced against her back, its familiar weight a comforting anchor amidst the chaos that threatened to consume her.
By Kingsley Gomes, PhD.2 years ago in Fiction
"The frog Prince of heaven :Ferdinand's journey beyond the pond"
Once upon a time, nestled between two towering mountains that kissed the sky, there lay a lush and verdant forest known as Evergreen Hollow. Within this enchanted realm lived a humble frog named Ferdinand. Unlike his pond-mates who contented themselves with lazy sunbathing and insect-hunting, Ferdinand harbored dreams that soared higher than the tallest trees.
By Gobika Senthilkumar2 years ago in Fiction
